The Republic of Dagestan is not one of the most popular destinations among Russian and foreign tourists - in the Altai, for example, goes more than two million annually, and in Dagestan only 850 thousand (figures for the last "coronamic" 2019).
Travelers' ideas about this country are replete with stereotypes: it is believed that there are only men on the "Priors", and women in burqas. It is, but there is another side! Let's look at some interesting facts from the life of Dagestan, able to surprise the regulars of travel.
Abundance of prayers
The first thing that clearly demonstrates the specifics of the region when traveling by car, train or plane will be a room for religious rites. According to statistics, 95% of the population of the republic professes a Muslim confession, they are supposed to pray 5 (or 3) times a day. Therefore, in airports, railway stations, restaurants, gas stations, shops there are such rooms - separate for men and women.
Lack of federal networks
In this part of the Russian Federation, market laws do not apply - otherwise how to explain the absence of "Ashanov" and "Dixie", which conquered Russia a little more than completely? Their place is taken by markets and local grids like the "Green Apple". The price offer is on average higher than in the capital, but not by much.
But the markets here - swing. A box of grapes of any variety can be purchased for 200-250 rubles, and visitors to cafes and restaurants are treated to fruits and berries for free. A kilo of dried apricots will come out in two hundred, a jar of mountain honey - in 300, and a bag of healing mountain plants - and at all in a modest poltos.
Bargaining here is loved, appreciated and understood - this is a kind of sport, only with language and hands.
There are no federal gas stations, only their likeness, whose brands and emblems confusingly resemble promoted corporations. There is "Luxoil" and "Rossneft", and so in everything.
In addition, Dagestanis in their region prefer gas as fuel: more profitable and cheaper.
The largest dune in Europe
This region is known for its mountains, and few are aware of how diverse the region is. There is a canyon in Sulak, and the gorge of Gimra, and the reservoir in Irgan. There is also a dune - a deserted sandy hill a dozen kilometers from Makhachkala.
The nature of its appearance in these places is a mystery: around the mountain, sands are not observed. Perhaps a relic of one of the former geological epochs, not otherwise. It is the largest on the Eurasian continent: the height reaches 260 meters, and the length is several kilometers.
Guides tell that Sarykum is a consequence of the love of a girl and a guy. The father of the first announced that the wedding is possible in the only case: if he pulls enough sand from the sea so that from the resulting slide you can see their saklu. Poetic.
It is located on the territory of the Dagestan National Park, equipped with a convenient ladder for climbing up. The main inhabitants are snakes, lizards and turtles. Against the usual, the sand is cool, and from the dune offers a magnificent view of the mountains. In the summer months, the air above it warms up to 50-60 degrees, but the sand remains cool no matter what happens.
Sulak Canyon
In the list of the main attractions of the country, you should remember the canyon in Sulak. Guides like to tell that its depth reaches 1921 meters, which is 60 meters more than the American Grand Canyon.
To get here, it is best to rent a car for rent. It is important to keep in mind: driving on mountain roads requires specific experience and remarkable concentration. Another option is local travel companies, which have a comprehensive excursion with logistics, a visit to a cafe and a trout farm will cost 2-2.5 thousand rubles.
There is no direct descent to this geological artifact: first you need to climb to Zubutli - the aul on the second stage of the main canyon. In the 70s, the settlement was destroyed by an earthquake, but is now being restored.
When viewed from above, from the observation room in Dubki, an hour's drive from the capital, it is impossible not to note the picturesque landscapes. There is also a unique statue of Vladimir Lenin in his papakh.
Antiquity of Derbent
There are other records - for example, there is supposedly the oldest city of the country Derbent. The figures are inaccurate: some are convinced that he celebrated five thousand years, others three. Scientists claim that the first mention of Hecateus from Miletus dates back to the VI century BC In this case, the title of the oldest settlement has to be shared with Kerch: in the year of the Millennium, she celebrated her 2600th birthday, but the real age is unknown and lies in the plane of politics, not history.
Since 2020, the only rocket ekranoplan "Lun" is exhibited here, which is a hybrid of a rocket boat and an aircraft. Other similar ships perform purely civilian tasks - carry cargo and extinguish fires. And this one was equipped with six Mosquito anti-ship missiles. The authorities planned to place it in the exposition of the future Patriot Park, but it has not yet been forgotten to build, and the unique aircraft is rotting in the open air, although once it could carry half of the US carrier strike group in one salvo. The practical range exceeded 2200, and the speed was 550 kilometers.
The sea in the city
In Makhachkala, Derbent and a dozen other major cities of the region, you can swim right in the city - however, it is better not to do this: dirty, and the railway does not add pleasure from meeting the sea.
It is much better to choose for these purposes the resort of Kaspiysk, equally suitable for tourists, bathers and fans of surfing and kite. The water quickly warms up in the spring and cools in the autumn - in early September no more than 20 degrees.
In Makhachkala there are commercial beaches with a humane price tag and a democratic approach to guests.
There are more than 60 nationalities in Dagestan
There are a dozen and a half only official languages: Avar, Agul, Azerbaijani, Dargin, Kumyk, Lak, Lezgin, Nogai, Rutul, Tabasaran, Tat, Tsakhur, Chechen + Russian on the rights of the language of interethnic communication: many nationalities do not understand each other in communication, and here he comes to the rescue.
And the language of signs - here they love travelers and always strive to help, not disdaining gestures and all sorts of pidgins (languages-mixtures, such as surjik and trasyanka), they drive, feed and give shelter. In a word, we must go!
